The dozen or so people distributing leaflets protested what they called the tyranny of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, which they said has wrongfully removed children from their homes.

David Hansen, one of the organizers of Thursday’s event, said, “We’re sacrificing our Christmas so that these families can have Christmas next time.”

The Legislature empowers the state agency to take custody of children who are being harmed or neglected by their parents.

That power is being abused by DCFS, said Hansen, a Kaysville resident who co-founded the parental rights group called Accountability Utah.

The group was joined by Libertarian gubernatorial hopeful Richard Mack. The protesters also included at least two mothers who said their children were taken away by DCFS.

The protesters met at a business park in Murray, formed carpools and headed out.

Their first stop was the home of state Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Murray, whom they accused of “refusing to take meaningful action to help innocent families get their children back or to restore the rights of all innocent parents — including the right to be tried by a jury of our own peers.”

Arent, who was just pulling out of her driveway on her way to help feed the homeless downtown, said later that she did understand why she was targeted.

“I’ve always tried to balance parental rights with the rights of the children,” she said.

The flier, which was distributed to at least 20 of Arent’s neighbors, urged people to call Arent to complain. The flier did not identify its source.

Protesters also visited Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City, who said she believes DCFS is working and that there are sufficient checks and balances in place to stop abuse. She said more state funding should be available to aid the legal defense of parents who cannot afford it.

The group also targeted Sen. Paula Julander, D-Salt Lake City; Rep. Scott Daniels, D-Salt Lake City; Rep. Patricia Jones, D-Holladay; Rep. Peggy Wallace, R-West Jordan; Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City; Sen. Dan Eastman, R-Bountiful; and Richard Anderson, director of DCFS.

Don Olsen, a neighbor of Jones, said, “I don’t believe in politicking on holidays. It’s bad enough it happens during the rest of the year.”

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D4.